Tatjana Šimić (born 9 June 1963), also known by the
mononym
A mononym is a name composed of only one word. An individual who is known and addressed by a mononym is a mononymous person.
A mononym may be the person's only name, given to them at birth. This was routine in most ancient societies, and remains ...
Tatjana, is a
Croatian-
Dutch model, actress and singer.
Biography
Šimić was born in
Zagreb
Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...
,
PR Croatia,
Yugoslavia
, common_name = Yugoslavia
, life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation
, p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia
, flag_p ...
on 9 June 1963, but moved with her mother and sister to
Rotterdam
Rotterdam ( , ; ; ) is the second-largest List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city in the Netherlands after the national capital of Amsterdam. It is in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of South Holland, part of the North S ...
in 1979 at the age of 16.
In the 1980s, having won a national modeling contest, she commenced work as an actress and model. In the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
,
Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
and
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
, she remains known for her portrayal of the character Kees Flodder, a daughter in the dysfunctional and anti-social
Flodder family, which featured in several Dutch comedy
film
A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...
s and a television series in the 1980s and 1990s.
The original movie was popular in the Netherlands, reaching two and a half million viewers. Šimić, a
sex symbol
A sex symbol or icon is a person or character widely considered sexually attractive and often synonymous with sexuality. Pam Cook, "The trouble with sex: Diana Dors and the Blonde bombshell phenomenon", In: Bruce Babinigton (ed.), ''British St ...
, has appeared on the cover of ''
Playboy
''Playboy'' (stylized in all caps) is an American men's Lifestyle journalism, lifestyle and entertainment magazine, available both online and in print. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, funded in part by a $ ...
'' seventeen times between 1988 and 1996; thirteen times on the Dutch edition and four times on the German edition.
In December 2012, she made her last appearance in the Dutch Playboy's Christmas special.
Šimić started a recording career in 1987 with her first
single, "Baby Love". Her song "Chica Cubana" became a hit in Europe, followed a year later by "Awaka Boy" in 1989. In 1992, she recorded a version of "
Can't Take My Eyes Off You
"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a 1967 song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, and first recorded and released as a single by Gaudio's Four Seasons bandmate Frankie Valli. The song was among his biggest hits, earning a gold record and rea ...
" with Dutch singer
Gerard Joling. Her first album was released in 1993 and included the hit "Feel Good" which reached #25 in the Netherlands Top 40. Her best known song "Santa Maria" was recorded and produced by
Mike Stock and
Matt Aitken
Matthew James Aitken (born 25 August 1956) is an English songwriter and record producer, brought up in Astley, Greater Manchester, best known as part of the 1980s/early-1990s songwriting/production trio Stock Aitken Waterman.
Biography
He beg ...
of
Stock Aitken Waterman
Stock Aitken Waterman (abbreviated as SAW and also known as the Hit Factory) are an English songwriting and record production trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. The trio had great success from the mid-1980s throug ...
becoming an international dance hit.
">cafe80s: Tatjana "Santa Maria" press release
/ref> It peaked at #40 in the UK Singles Chart in September 1996.Tony Cetinski
Anthony Cetinski (born 31 May 1969) is a Croatian pop singer.
Biography
Born into a family of musicians in Pula (then SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia), Cetinski began singing when he was 15 years old with various local groups. He moved from Rovinj to ...
's ''Blago Onom Tko Te Ima'', which left her signature disco sound behind for a more rock pop style. The track was Tatjana's biggest Dutch hit to date reaching #11 in the Dutch Singles Chart.
Discography
Albums
* 1991: ''Tatjana''
* 1993: ''Feel Good''
* 1996: ''Santa Maria''
* 1997: ''New Look'' NL #70
Singles
* 1987: "Baby Love"
* 1987: "Dance With Me"
* 1988: "Chica Cubana" NL #11
* 1988: "Awaka Boy" NL #40
* 1990: "A Letter To Your Heart"
* 1991: " You and Me" NL #81
* 1992: "Can't Take My Eyes Off You
"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" is a 1967 song written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, and first recorded and released as a single by Gaudio's Four Seasons bandmate Frankie Valli. The song was among his biggest hits, earning a gold record and rea ...
" NL #6
* 1992: "He's My Man"
* 1993: "Feel Good" NL #21
* 1993: "Never Never"
* 1994: "Don't You Want Me
"Don't You Want Me" is a song by British synth-pop group the Human League (credited on the cover as the Human League 100). It was released on 27 November 1981 as the fourth single from their third studio album, '' Dare'' (1981). The band's be ...
Baby"
* 1994: Na Na Na Na (Come On Let's Go Out)
* 1995: " Santa Maria" NL #37, AUS #50, UK #40
* 1996: "Calendar Girl" NL #73
* 1997: "The First Time" NL #41
* 1997: "O Baby I"
* 1997: "Boy I Know"
* 1997: "Your Love Is Magic"
* 1997: "Searching For You"
* 1999: "Crazy Way About You"
* 1999: "Be There In Time"
* 1999: "Wait And Wonder"
* 2000: "Be There In Time"
* 2000: "Baila Baila" NL #24
* 2001: "Caged"
* 2007: "Blago Onom Ko Te Oma"
* 2008: "Ik laat je gaan" NL #11
* 2010: "Ga Nu Maar" NL #93
Filmography
Film
* '' Flodder'' (1986) - Kees Flodder
* ''Appointment with Yesterday'' (TV film, 1988)
* ''Starke Zeiten'' (1988)
* '' My Blue Heaven'' (1990) - Suzy
* ''Zlatne godine'' (1992) - TV Journalist
* ''Flodder in America
''Flodders in America'' (), released in Quebec as ''Les Lavigueur Redéménagent'', is a 1992 Dutch comedy film directed by Dick Maas. The film is the sequel of the successful film '' Flodder'' from 1986. It was filmed on location in New York an ...
'' (1992) - Kees Flodder
* ''Flodder 3
'' Flodder 3 '' (alternative titles: ''Flodder Forever'' or ''Flodder: The Final Story'') is a 1995 Dutch comedy film directed by Dick Maas. It is the third and last film about the anti-social family, called 'Flodder'. The film is a continuation o ...
'' (1995) - Kees Flodder
Television
* '' Flodder de TV-serie'' (1993–1998) - Kees Flodder
References
External links
* "Tatjana"at Allmusic.com
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simic, Tatjana
1963 births
Living people
Croatian television actresses
Dutch dance musicians
Dutch female models
21st-century Dutch women singers
21st-century Dutch singers
Dutch film actresses
Dutch television actresses
20th-century Dutch women singers
Croatian emigrants to the Netherlands
Eurodance musicians
1990s Playboy Playmates
Models from Zagreb
English-language singers from Croatia
Actresses from Rotterdam